Chris Avellone MIGS 2013

[PrimeJunta]

A couple of the BG1 portraits are really good - such as the Edwin one. But there are some less good ones as well.

 

Ya think? No accounting for taste, I guess.

[Sedrefilos]

I really do believe the portraits is the last of our worries (if there are any worries - the game seems to shape up pretty good). I never really cared about portraits tbh (I prefer customized avatars and pictures that resembles them at some point - Shadowrun Returns style, at least).

Edited November 14, 2013 by Sedrefilos

[Sensuki]

 

A couple of the BG1 portraits are really good - such as the Edwin one. But there are some less good ones as well.

 

Ya think? No accounting for taste, I guess.

 

 

I am not an artist. There's nothing wrong with simple but effective. Still managed to be better than every BG2 portrait made (except for the Irenicus and Bodhi ones).

[Malekith]

BGT were great games, but their art was nothing special. Black Isle > Bioware in that aspect.

PST and IWDs (and Fallouts) had terrific art direction.

[Tamerlane]

PST had great looking stuff, but a lot of their 3D work (including portraits) was... uh...

 

[Jajo]

They've really got BG style portraits spot on. The portraits are great and they are exactly what Sawyer said they are aiming for (trying to have portraits that are applicable to all classes).

Would Kaz have gone for the IWD style, I'd probably be tap dancing right now.

 

Both other screenshots are also pure delight to look at.

It's a shame we only get to see them like this. I hope once the backer page is accessible, they'll be updating the screenshot section at least weekly. No update -> new screen shot(s). It would give (us) excited peeps something to chew on until the next update.

[WorstUsernameEver]

Update the screenshot section weakly and by the time the game is released all the areas will have been spoiled.

[GhoulishVisage]

 

 

the black female is looking pretty interesting and unique

I agree, I love that one. She's possibly an air-element Godlike, judging by the feathers.

The companion portraits are Kaz's work, I believe.

 

 

Though the high collar, plate armour and her being black would also speak for Vailian. Maybe sort of both?

 

 

I believe every race/culture has godlikes amongst them in PE.

[Jajo]

Update the screenshot section weakly and by the time the game is released all the areas will have been spoiled.

Screen shots may not only be of areas. And I'd venture a guess, that this would take about 50 screen shots after the site is launched IF they really are updated every week, not just when there is no other update.

 

EDIT:

Edited November 14, 2013 by Jajo

[Labadal]

In his presentation, Chris talks about a gameplay trailer being shown in a few weeks. I guess the big update won't disappoint the people wanting that.

[Amentep]

Not watched the videos, but that light on Avellone on GhoulishVisage's screen shots make it look like he's glowing.  I think he might need some RadAway.

[sesobebo]

them portraits... O:

 

i'm sooooooooo* glad i went for a tier the includes hi-res art book.

 

 

 

 

*scale not to scale

Edited November 14, 2013 by sesobebo

[neo6874]

them portraits... O:

 

i'm sooooooooo* glad i went for a tier the includes hi-res art book.

 

 

 

 

*scale not to scale

I couldn't scrounge the money back when it was on kickstarter   ... hopefully can get in on the book tier via the backer site...

[Greensleeve]

Amazing portraits. Promise of a gameplay video in a few weeks. Fantastic presentation by Avellone on the process of games development. Two thumbs up; interesting experience, would try again. 

[J.E. Sawyer]

 

 

I believe every race/culture has godlikes amongst them in PE.

 

Correct.  As far as anyone can tell, godlike can be born to any race in any part of the known world.

[JFSOCC]

Cool video!

I always enjoy hearing Chris Avellone speak, maybe he can do an Q&A on these forums some time

[rjshae]

Both portraits look fantabulous! Great work. I like the casual, non-traditional poses, yet they both follow the rule of thirds pretty well. Nice use of light and shadows.

[Kaz]

Hey thanks for the compliments everyone, reading through the comments was an awesome moral booster! Really glad the labor payed off. I had a blast working on the portraits and look forward to doing more in the future. The concept dept. has been producing a lot of great stuff recently, can't wait to share them with you. 

[Karranthain]

Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see more, have you done any work on PC portraits, perchance?

[Rabain]

Who was recording this?  How hard would it have been to raise the camera over the level of standing peoples heads and angle it down?  Also it appears everyone's funny bone was removed as they entered.

 

Anyway great artwork, good info!

[sarkthas]

Around 27:00 when Avellone is talking about how they don't want to make any crazy changes to the world, I got a little curious.

 

Does this exclude the possibility of any sort cataclysmic event in the future of the setting? Or could that be subject to change in possible future releases?

?

Edited November 14, 2013 by sarkthas

[Lephys]

 

"Gameplay video in a few weeks". So I guess we'll be having our christmas present from Obsidian

Thanksgiving present more likely.

 

It'll give new meaning to "Feast your eyes on this!"

 

 

 

Hey thanks for the compliments everyone, reading through the comments was an awesome moral booster! Really glad the labor payed off. I had a blast working on the portraits and look forward to doing more in the future. The concept dept. has been producing a lot of great stuff recently, can't wait to share them with you.

I yet once more encourage you (if it isn't already planned) to urge someone to approve working a boatload of all you guys's concept stuff into lore books/manuscripts throughout the game. And/or the "codex"/journal or what-have-you.

 

It would be PERFECT! Account of a Cean Gula in a book? Slap the artwork in there (as if someone in the world attempted depicting one). You've already made all that glorious, glorious artwork, so it wouldn't really be much extra work to plug it into the game, 8P

Edited November 14, 2013 by Lephys

[Merlkir]

BG did this with weapons' and magical items' description/concept art, iirc, and I loved it. 

Edited November 14, 2013 by Merlkir

[SophosTheWise]

By the way, I like Avellone talks. He's just so relaxed and fun. Really cool to watch and listen.

 

@Kaz: What are you even doing on the forums? GET BACK TO WORK!   No, seriously, really awesome portraits. I'm really looking forward to see more of your art. What's up with the wizard estate on your website? Is that a PE design? 

 

To get back to the portraits: Someone on the Codex has found a statement by Josh (probably from the SA forums) that the blonde guy is Edair whose name is no spelled Edér.

[Kaz]

Hey thanks for the compliments everyone, reading through the comments was an awesome moral booster! Really glad the labor payed off. I had a blast working on the portraits and look forward to doing more in the future. The concept dept. has been producing a lot of great stuff recently, can't wait to share them with you.

I yet once more encourage you (if it isn't already planned) to urge someone to approve working a boatload of all you guys's concept stuff into lore books/manuscripts throughout the game. And/or the "codex"/journal or what-have-you.

 

It would be PERFECT! Account of a Cean Gula in a book? Slap the artwork in there (as if someone in the world attempted depicting one). You've already made all that glorious, glorious artwork, so it wouldn't really be much extra work to plug it into the game, 8P

 

 

It's a good idea, and we plan on using modified versions of concept work in parts of the game. However it's trickier than it seems because not everything we produce can be easily converted to match the in-game aesthetic.

 

By the way, I like Avellone talks. He's just so relaxed and fun. Really cool to watch and listen.

 

@Kaz: What are you even doing on the forums? GET BACK TO WORK!   No, seriously, really awesome portraits. I'm really looking forward to see more of your art. What's up with the wizard estate on your website? Is that a PE design? 

 

To get back to the portraits: Someone on the Codex has found a statement by Josh (probably from the SA forums) that the blonde guy is Edair whose name is no spelled Edér.

 

Thank you. I worked on the wizard estate piece right before interviewing for my current position. I was freaking out because I didn't have much environment concepts to show.

Here's some random career advise - if you ever apply for an artist position in the entertainment industry, consider producing a few pieces that would fit into titles the company has worked on in the past. It shows you have a high level of interest in the position and takes out some of the guess work. This also reinforces the point Chris was making in the video when talking about hiring Jorge. Customizing your portfolio to match the company's tastes is a huge win. 

Oh and for your last question, all I'm gonna say is "Edér is the new Edair".